Mask structure



Sept. 12, 1944. DUGGAN 2,358,151 MASK STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 6, 1943 FIG-l.

I INVENTOR.

JAMES EDWARD DUGGA --BY ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 12, 1944 v MASK STRUCTURE v James Edward Duggan, New Brighton, Pa. Application Januar t, 1943, Serial NI47L5o0 I 13 Claims;

This invention relates generally to devices that are used to protect one or more surfaces or portions of an article from paint or plating material applied to adjacent or-other predetermined surfaces or portions thereof, and refers-more particularly to a mask structure applicable to-a stub shaft or cylindrical projection of a gear or other element. I

Heretofore, it has been customary to apply paint or plating materialto certain surfaces of the gear from which the stub'shaft projects and when this is done someof'the paint or plating material oftentimes splatters or falls onto thebearing surfaces of the stub shaft and then has to be removed. To protect the stub shaft from such paint or plating material various devices,

usually in the'form of adhesively appliedmasks or taped sheets or strips, have been employed on.

the shafts. Such devices sometimes failed to cover or protect the surface of the shaft at the juncture thereof with the gear and usually disfigured or marred the engaged surfaces of the shaft when such devices were applied or removed. Moreover, such devices were unusable after once being applied and had to be scrapped.

Thus, one of the essential objects of the present invention is to provide a durable mask structure that may be easily and quickly applied and removed without marring the engaged surfaces and that will stand repeated handling and'use.

Another object is to provide a mask structure that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and eflicient in operation.

Another object is to provide amask structure that is so constructed that it forms a tight seal with the engaged surface to preclude paint or plating material from seeping or passingunder the mask onto the shaft; r

Another object is to provide a mask structure that includes a vacuumcup portion to effectively hold the mask structure in proper masking position when applied to the shaft.

Another object is to provide a mask structure 7 that may be manipulated in such a way that it not only may be moved longitudinally of the shaft but will form automatically a tight seal with the apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein;

Figure 1 is a top plan viewof a gear provided-55 upon opposite sides thereof with axially aligned stub shafts, and showing in section a mask em-.

bodying my invention applied to one of the;

shafts; V 1 Y v Figure 2 is an elevational viewof the mask per se; l,

Figure 3 is an end view of the mask; and Figure 4 is another end viewof the mask;

, Figure 5' is a viewsimilartoFigure 1 but showing a slight modification, I

Referring now to the drawing, A is a gear having integral stub shafts B and C projecting laterally from opposite sides thereof,- and D is a, mask-embodying .my invention for protecting eitherlshaft .B or C from paint orplating mate rial applied to the-adjacent side ofthe gear A In the present instance, the mask Dis made of rubber or rubber composition'and constitutes a protecting sleeve for either shaft B or 0'.

As shown, the mask D comprises a hollow glob iular body-l0 provided at diametrically opposite sides with circular holes II and I2 and provided at one of said sides in substantially concentric relation with the'hole I2 with a laterally projectingconcavo-convex annular flange l3. The walls a of the body l0 and of the flange l3 are relatively thick, hence the edges- MI-an'd l5, respectively, of. the openings II and- |2 arerelatively wide and. provide annular surfaces for surface tosurface engagement with the shaft B at longitudinally spaced points thereof. Preferably the diameter of the body lllplus the length of the flange I3 is. substantially equal to the lengthvof the shaft B to which it-is applied. Hence, the entire surface of theshaft is covered; and protected when the mask is'in proper masking position. In fact, the shaft B is not onlycovered but'there is a tight seal provided between the edge-=l6 of the flange; I3 and the adjacent side or surface of the gear A." In this connection it will be noted that the thicknessof the flange I3 is such that a surface to surface engagement of considerable width is provided'betweenthe edge lfiof said flange and the adjacent surface of the gear A. l 7

to open wider to receive the shaft B. The body I0 is then released and again squeezedto advance the mask on. the shaft B towardrthe gear A. When the body H] is, repeatedly squeezed. and released as aforesaid the mask D will not only walk upon the shaft to masking position but 'will cause the flange l3 to abut and bear firmly against the adjacent side of the gear A to form a tight seal therewith. In fact, the squeezing of the body expels air from the space 20 therein through one or both openings II or I2 so as to create a vacuum between the body and shaft B which, in cooperation with the surface to surprovided between the shaft B and said edges I4 and I5 of the body when the mask is in -proper masking position. Such joints will prevent any slippage of the mask relative to the shaft and thus will maintain the seal .aforesaid between the flange and the gear.

possibility of paint or plating material applied;

As a result, there is no to the gear A reaching the shaft B. The same is also true of the other shaftC when it is covered by a similar mask. In Figure 5 I have illustrateda slight modification wherein the mask'D' is elongated inform for engagement with a longer shaft B. As shown the body ID of the mask hasthick edges and 3] ,-respectively, corresponding to the thick edges Hand [5 illustrated in Figure 1, to provide the proper tight surface to-"surface engagement with the shaftjbut has relatively thin intermediate connecting walls 32 whichmay be squeezed as aforesaid when it is desired to advance the mask on the shaft to maskingposition. Thus, theover-all amount of rubberor its equivalent used in the manufacture ofthis-elongated mask D is approximately the same as th'at used in the shorter inaskiD.

Thus, from the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a mask structure that may be easily and" quickly applied to or removed'from' a shaft or similar element without marring the engaged surfaces or the painter plating material applied to the gear A and that will effectively protect such shaft from the paint or plating materialwhile it-is being applied to the gear'or similar element on said shaft.

What I claim-asmyinven'tion is:

-1. Amas k'str ucture comprising "a globular body provided at substantially diametrically opposite sides thereof with holes and provided at one of said sides in substantially concentric relation to the :hole therein with a laterally projecting substantially concavo-convex annular flange.

2. A mask structure formed of resilient ma- -r terial and comprising a globular body provided' at substantially diametrically opposite sides thereof with holes and provided at one of said'sides in substantially concentric relation to the hole therein with a laterally projecting outwardly opening cup shaped flange.

3. A one piece mask structure formed entirely of rubber or rubber composition and comprising a hollow globular body provided inopposed walls thereof withholes and provided upon the outside of one of said walls in substantially concentric relation to the hole therein with a laterally'projecting, substantially concave-convex annular flange.

4. A mask structure comprising a hollow globular resilient body provided in opposed walls thereof withholes and provided upon the outside of .oneof said walls in substantially concentric relation -to the hole therein with a laterally projecting outwardly opening cup shaped flange.

formed entirely of rubber or rubber composition and comprising a hollow globular body provided with aligned holes for receiving a shaft and provided upon the outside of the globular body in substantially concentric relation to one of said holes with a laterally projecting substantially concavo-convex annular flange for sealing engagement wtih one side of a gear on said shaft.

7. A mask structure of the class described formed entirely of rubber or rubber composition and comprising a hollow globular body provided inopposed walls thereof with holes for receiving a shaft and provided upon the outside. of the body in substantially concentric relation to one of 'said holes with a laterally'projecting substantia-lly-concavo-convex annular flange for sealing engagement with one side of a gear on said shaft, the walls of said body and of the flange being of such thickness that the edges of said holes and of said flange provide relatively wide surface to surface engagement respectively with said shaft and said gear. I

, '8. Means for protectinga shaft from paint or plating material applied to an article on said shaft, comprising a globular body of resilient material provided at diametricallyopposite sides thereof with holes forreceivingsaid shaft and provided at one of said sides :in substantially concentric relation with the hole therein with a laterally projecting co'ncavo convex annular flange for sealing engagement with the article on said shaft.

plating material applied-to an article on said shaft, comprising a hollow body of resilient material provided in opposite walls thereof with aligned holes for receiving said shaft and provided atone of said walls around the edges of the hole therein witha laterally projecting outwardly opening cup shaped'flange for sealing engagement with the article on said shaft, the hollow body itself forming a chamber, and the alignedholes being of such size relative to the shaft that the chamber is closed when the holes receive said shaft.

' 10. Means for protecting a shaft from paint or plating material applied toan article onsaid shaft; comprising a hollow body of resilient mament with said shaft, the hollow body itself formin a chamber, and the aligned holes being of such size relative to theshaft that the chamber is closed when the holes receive said shaft.

11. Means for protecting a shaft frompaint or plating material applied to an article on said shaft, comprising a hollow body of resilient material provided in opposite walls thereof with aligned holes for receiving said shaft and provided -at one of said walls around the edges of the hole therein with a laterally projecting outwardly opening cup shaped flange for engagement with the article on said shaft, the flange being relatively thick whereby the free end thereof provides relatively wide surface to surface sealing engagement with said article, the hollow body itself forming a chamber, and the aligned holes being of such size relative to the shaft that the chamber is closed when the holes receive said shaft.

12. A mask structure of the class described comprising a compressible hollow body provided in opposed walls thereof with aligned holes for receiving a shaft and provided upon the outside of one of said walls in substantially concentric relation to one of said holes with a laterally projecting outwardly opening cup shaped flange for sealing engagement with one side of an element on said shaft, the hollow body itself forming a chamber, and the aligned holes being of such size relative to the shaft that the chamber is closed when the holes receive said shaft.

13. A mask structure of the class described comprising a compressible hollow body having in opposed walls thereof aligned holesfor receiving a shaft and provided on the outside of one of saidwalls around the edges of one of said holes with a laterally projecting outwardly opening cup shaped flange for sealing engagement with an abutment on said shaft, the body itself forming a chamber, said body being formed of resilient material and adapted to be advanced on said shaft toward said abutment while alternately compressing and releasing the body, the size of, the holes relative to the shaft being such that. a vacuumnis created in said chamber when the body is released following compression thereof. I

' JAMES EDWARD DUGGAN. 

